For many centuries the social and financial affairs of
St. Keverne resided in the hands of a small group of
people drawn from the Church Vestry, local gentry and
the more affluent farmers and tradesmen. It was their
duty to maintain law and order, repair roads and
provide extremely elementary education for the
children. But above all to look after the destitute and
needy of the Parish. The finance for all of this was
raised by a tax, levied upon local people who were in
the position to pay. The rising population and the
return of destitute soldiers from the war with France
put an ever increasing burden upon the local people.

Central Government had for some years become aware of
this and it was to become more and more involved in
affairs in the county. The industrial revolution and
all its social problems was to hasten this involvement.
By 1849 Central Government were subsidising local
education throughout the country to the sum of
£900,000.

In 1862 Highways Boards were formed and by 1888 the
responsibility for main roads lay in the hands of the
County. Though many, many secondary roads were not
tarmaced until the 1930's. In 1840 Central
establishments for the poor and sick was to lift the
burden from local Parishes. 'Helston Union' was
built and set up at this time. We know it today as
Meneage Hospital. So after a length of time going back
to the early Middle Ages, the burden of authority was
finally lifted in 1894 from the shoulders of the Church
Vestry Council.